"I shall be as tall as you some day, Lady," responded Margaret archly. "And then," said Marjory, stroking the girl's hair, "thou wilt wish thyself back again, little Magot." "Nay!--under your good leave, fair Aunt, never!" "Ah, we know better, don't we, Madge?" asked the Countess, laughing. "Well, I will leave you two maidens together. There is the month's wash to be seen to, and if I am not there, that Alditha is as likely to put the linen in the chests without a sprig of rosemary, as she is to look in the mirror every time she passes it. We shall meet at supper. Adieu!" And the Countess departed, on housekeeping thoughts intent. For a few minutes the two girls--for the aunt was only about twelve years the senior--sat silent, Margaret having drawn her aunt's hand down and rested her cheek upon it. They were very fond of one another: and being so near in age, they had been brought up so much like sisters, that except in one or two items they treated each other as such, and did not assume the respective authority and reverence usual between such relations at that time. Beyond the employment of the deferential _you_ by Margaret, and the familiar _thou_ by Marjory, they chatted to each other as any other girls might have done. But just then, for a few minutes, neither spoke. "Well, Magot!" said Marjory, breaking the silence at last, "have we nought to say to each other? Thou art forgetting, I think, that I want a full account of all these three years since I came to see thee before. They have not been empty of events, I know." Margaret's answer was a groan. "Empty!" she said. "Fair Aunt, I would they had been, rather than full of such events as they were. Father Nicholas saith that the old Romans--or Greeks, I don't know which--used to say the man was happy who had no history. I am sure we should have been happier, lately, if we had not had any." "`Don't know which!' What a heedless Magot!" "Why, fair Aunt, surely you don't expect people to recollect lessons. Did you ever remember yours?" Marjory laughed. "Sufficiently so, I hope, to know the difference between Greeks and Romans. But, however,--for the last three years. Tell me all about them." "Am I to begin with the Flood, like a professional chronicler?" "Well, no. I think the Conquest would be soon enough." "Delicious Aunt Marjory! How many weary centuries you excuse me!" "_How_ many, Magot?" "Oh, please don't! How can I possibly tell? If you really want to know, I will send for Father Nicholas." Marjory laughed, and kissed the lively face turned up to her. "Idle Magot! Well, go on." "I don't think I am idle, fair Aunt. But I do detest learning dates.-- Well, now,--was it in April you left us? I know it was very soon after my Lady of Cornwall was married, but I do not remember exactly what month." "It was in May," said Marjory, shortly.